OVERSIGHT of Bishop’s Mission Orders (BMOs) and other missional initiatives was strengthened by the General Synod on Wednesday evening, after it voted through amendments to the code of practice governing these within the wake of the Soul Survivor scandal.
The Bishop of Exeter, Dr Mike Harrison, told members that he was bringing the primary revision of the code since 2018. This had been prompted by recommendations from the Scolding review into the Mike Pilavachi case (News, 4 October 2024).
Dr Harrison said that the amendments proposed to combat “unhealthy patterns of power” which could arise in certain fresh expressions, church-plants, and “recent worshipping communities”.
Among the changes were rules to be sure that BMO leaders establish safeguarding procedures and governance which more closely mirrors that in parish churches, before a bishop signs off on the order.
The Church of England was committed to a “mixed ecology”, he said, and mission initiatives were helping to achieve a wide range of individuals. These amendments were, due to this fact, not attempting to stifle BMOs, but to strengthen them, Dr Harrison argued. “They are central to our ongoing work to make the Church a protected place for all.”
Several Synod members spoke to praise the work of BMOs, which they said were helping the Church of England to achieve diverse communities with the gospel. Most speakers in the talk welcomed the move to strengthen accountability to and ties with dioceses. This includes making an archdeacon the Visitor who oversees any BMO.
There was a transient discussion about one clause in the brand new code, which warned against the “unhealthy patterns of power” which could arise under some types of “entrepreneurial leadership”. Many members expressed disquiet about this, on the grounds that it unfairly denigrates pioneers within the Church. An amendment to rewrite this paragraph was passed.
There was also debate concerning the role of the chair of a BMO’s trustee body, and whether this could all the time — or just normally — be a lay person. The intent, Dr Harrison explained, was to be sure that the leader of a BMO couldn’t also chair the trustees, although many speakers noticed that this was the direct opposite of what happened in PCCs, which were invariably chaired by the parish incumbent.
Another amendment tabled to offer a level of flexibility for BMOs in how they seek to maintain up-to-date with the newest best practice on charity governance was also passed.
Other issues were raised, including whether BMOs should come under a close-by parish safeguarding officer, what to do with BMOs which sought to downplay and even obscure their Anglican nature, and what number of leaders of those sort of church-plants ended up burned out and under-supported by their dioceses.
In the tip, nonetheless, the amended code of practice was passed almost unanimously by the Synod
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